Bhakti Yoga

Hanuman is also known as the ‘Monkey God’. You may have heard his name mentioned in yoga class when you practice (…or watch in awe as someone else practices) ‘the splits’. There are actually three poses associated with Hanuman: Virasana (Hero Pose), Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge), and Hanumanasana (the Splits). More important than the poses themselves are the qualities that the Monkey God possessed.

In one of his many adventures, Hanuman leaped across the ocean (hence being know for ‘the splits’) to save his friend Lord Rama’s wife Sita. Because of this leap and circumstances leading up to and after that – Hanuman is a symbol of love, devotion and true friendship.

Every so often I lead a class dedicated to the Monkey God. The physical asana’s mentioned above are great to weave into a vinyasa flow. This practice enables you to embody the spirit of the Monkey God, but it is even more important to embody his qualities off the mat and see them in your everyday life!

Consider the love, devotion and friendship that surround you to truly live in the spirit of Hanuman! Here are some of the ways I see the Monkey God’s energy manifest in my world:

I have had the honor of spending the last 16 months with a beautiful group of Yoga Mamma’s and Tiny Born Yogi’s. We meet weekly at ‘Stroller Fit’ or ‘Mom and Baby Yoga’ for some exercise, connection and bonding time with our friends and babies. The group changes a bit every eight weeks, but one thing stays the same – I am always blown away by the love, compassion and strength I see in their hearts. Although many of the women have just met, there has been an unsaid commitment to support, lean on and care for each other that is very touching. I am blessed to call them true friends.

When I think of devotion – my heart and mind goes right to my family. This last year has been a painful one. We lost my dad in April and as I reflect on our year together leading up to his death – I hold close the times we stuck by each other and dedicated our hearts, prayers and love to him. Tonight we all went to the golf course that is home to a plaque honoring his life and favorite pass time. The picture at right is of our family – devoted to our father (husband and papa) that was taken away too soon.

It may sound cliche – but although times can be tough and there is always ‘bad stuff’ going on – I FEEL THE LOVE! I feel it from my family, in my yoga community, even from my new friend at a local coffee chain (that will I will not name) who often surprises me with a free coffee at the drive through! If you focus on all the ‘good stuff’ going on – it is hard NOT to FEEL THE LOVE.

Make a list of the love, devotion and friendship that seeps its way into your life! Think consciously about how you can embody these qualities yourself and spread the spirit of Hanuman!

To hear a hip hop tale of Hanuman by MC Yogi – download ‘Rock on Hanuman’ from itunes! A great track to accompany your practice or groove to in your car!

Observation without judgement is the highest spiritual practice. – Krishnamurti

Have you seen, read, heard or experienced something you found extremely distasteful even disturbing? If you are like most of us humans it is not hard to find something that gets your ire rising whether it be from your own life, your past history or collective history. Who does not feel sad, angry or even vengeful over the many mistakes, murders and devastation from the past. I use to become so angry when I read about women’s history especially the witch hunts and witch burnings that killed over 5 million of us women that I felt revenge in my bones. A friend of mine suggested that perhaps there was something about those events that I did not understand or that having those feelings was a great opportunity to feel anger and then decide to heal anyway. This was a great opportunity to be love in the face of hate.

Powerful stuff and not what we always want to hear when we are entrenched in the ego sense of right or wrong. This sense of right or wrong of course is what often leads to the wars, murders and acts of revenge however big or small that have held humanity in the place of struggle and sorrow for thousands of years. As we move toward a new state of consciousness with the coming of 2012 can we decide to heal no matter what? Can we truly live in the place of heart consciousness?

I am not saying that we should allow anyone to take advantage of us or overpower us in anyway. We need boundaries, clarity and self-respect. In fact I have found when I am very rooted in my sense of self-love, heart-felt purpose and light-being that I do not need to be so protective of my boundaries as I am attracting those people with intentions and mindsets most like mine. This is about finding a place of love when it really is the last feeling in your heart.

So what to do when we feel anger, vengence or jealousy?

Observe the feeling. Do not try to push it away. Be present to it.

Identify it. Name it (anger, sadness, etc) and then take your breath to it or send light energy to it.

See it as a judgement and know your mind is trying to understand but that there may be a deeper purpose, opportunity or lesson that you can not see at this point.

Focus on what you do want. For example when I hear stories about women today or in the past being persecuted, I pray or ask for a world where we are all free and equal and safe. I try to feel that within me and ask that any part of me that feels persecuted be healed now.

Practice Bhakti Yoga (devotion to the Divine). This could mean praying, chanting, being with great people, taking photos of beautiful things, walking in nature – anything that fills up the heart with love.

Then let it go…Decide to heal now. Become a lover.

The whole world could be choked with thorns: a Lover’s heart will stay a rose garden. -Rumi

Wishing you all love and healing.

Namaste,

Shasta

Fill up your heart and join us at Balanced Life Yoga Ajax for an afternoon of heartfelt practice with chanting goddess Brenda McMorrow.

“True Being Through Chanting” An Introduction to the Art and Practice of Kirtan – with Special Guest Brenda McMorrow

Saturday, February 5, 2011 2-4pm

Join devotional chant artist Brenda McMorrow in this special workshop where we will explore the healing, sacred sounds of ancient mantra and the joyous singing of kirtan (a practice of devotional or Bhakti Yoga). A special focus will be put on how this powerful practice serves to remind, awaken and enliven the truth of Who We Are! Open to people interested in singing, meditation, yoga, sound healing and anyone wanting to try something heart-opening and new! No experience necessary! Brenda McMorrow shares her special brand of heart-opening Kirtan chant with people far and wide. Her highly anticipated 2′nd album of Devotional songs “Love Abounds” was released by White Swan Records (Deva Premal/MC Yogi) in September ‘10. Brenda calls beautiful Guelph, Ontario home. www.brendamcmorrow.com $30

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Shasta Townsend

A celebrated transformational leader and a leading pioneer in embodied spirituality and Yoga, Shasta has inspired hundreds of people through her breakthrough methods for awakening and empowering your inner voice and divine power. Director, founder and senior teacher with Balanced Life Yoga, she delivers public talks, seminars and trainings on evolution and empowerment. She draws on a wide variety of techniques including Yoga, Shamanis, meditation, energy healing, coaching and the Law of Attraction. She is especially appreciated for her passionate way of allowing individuals to make sense of their world and embodied, holistic means to become the change they wish to see.

As early as in her teenage years, Shasta embarked on her journey as a spiritual explorer which led her to India, where she studied yoga, meditation and energy healing. She has studied with many remarkable mentors and she has undergone thousands of hour’s intense practice of meditation and spiritual studies. Shasta has taken every opportunity to become adept in her field through her own practice as well as through extensive training in yoga, group dynamics, meditation and spiritual counselling.

David Newman or Durga Das, as he is also known, is a Kirtan Chant Artist and a practitioner and educator of Bhakti Yoga – the Yoga of Love. David, a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba, travels extensively singing Kirtan (Indian devotional chanting) and sharing the spiritual, devotional, meditative, and musical aspects of yoga. David’s music embodies a devotional mysticism, distinctive musicality, poetic intimacy and a deep respect for India’s ancient chant tradition. His recordings expand the traditional Kirtan medium by incorporating a wide range of musical and lyrical elements and by exploring a vast palette of progressive production influences. David CDs include Lotus Feet: A Kirtan Revolution, Soul Freedom, Leap of Grace: The Hanuman Chalisa, a CD/DVD set entitled Into the Bliss and his latest release Love, Peace, Chant on Nettwerk/Nutone. His live kirtans and concerts are joyous, ecstatic, uplifting, and exploding with energy. A dedicated Kirtan Troubadour, David tours throughout the world with Mira, a celebrated devotional singer, recording artist and percussionist. He is also the author of a book on meditation entitled Merging with Grace and the founder of Yoga On Main in Philadelphia.

Co-host Chris Olcorn:
Chris Oldcorn is a spiritual teacher not associated with any one religion. Helping people live in the present moment is the basis for his spiritual teachings. Through his spirituality, Chris helps people discover their own unique purpose in life. He believes “we are here to have healthy relationships with each other.”

David Newman a.k.a. Durga Das LIVE July 8th 2pm EST was last modified: July 2nd, 2009 by VividLife Admin

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However sometime's growth involves digging up the dirt and planting anew...
And after over 20 years of marketing, promoting and producing others Shayne Traviss decided to open a new chapter in his life.
If you long to go higher, live a life 'all in' join him as he dives in deep sharing his life experiences, travels and inspirations for living a VividLife.